Gestational diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not make enough insulin or is unable to use all of the insulin needed during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body convert food into energy. Without insulin, glucose (sugar) from the food you eat cannot enter cells and builds up in the blood. Body tissue becomes starved for energy. The excess sugar in the blood can cross the placenta and cause problems for the baby. By definition, this condition occurs in women with no history of diabetes.
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